The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1887-11-26
EDIsoN's PHONOGRAPH.
Mr.. Thomas A. Edison Tells What His
Forthcoming PhOnOgraph Will DO.

'MY phonograph will occupy about as
much space on the merchants desk, or at
the side of the desk, as a typewriter does.
Ii will work automatically by a small
electric motor which runs at a perfectly
regular rate of speed, is noiseless, and
starts and stops st the touch of spring.
Suppose the merchant wishes to write a
letter; be pulls the mouthpiece of the
phonograph to him, starts the motor with
touch, and says what he has to say IN
an ordinary tone of voice. When he is
done he pulls out a little sheet and rolls
it up for the mail. The recipient places
this sheet in similar phonograph,
touches the motor Spring, and the instru-
nent will ct once read out the letter In
tone more distinct, clearer, more charac-
teristic of the voice of the writer than
any telephone you or / ever heard. The
phonograph voice is not loud voice,
perhaps not more than twice as loud as
the sound you get from good telephone,
and an earphone will be necessary. This,
however, may not be an objection, mas
much as people do not always want TO
have their letters heard all over the office.
In aiming for loudness in the phono-
graph, went astray In my first expert
ment; / should have tried for clcarneSs.
The present apparatus will satisfy any
one who is half satisfied with the tele-
phone. Of course, there are no disturb
ances in the photographic message such
as those made by induction along a tele-
phone wire, and as the apparatus will re-
peat the letter over and over again. II Is
possible to understand every syllable,
even in a noisy office. L was so overcome
with the success of my first instrument,
dnlshed about SIX Weeks ago, IraI 4
doubted whether L could make another
equally good, and went to work at once
to do so; my second instrument works as
well as the first, and have forty work
men employed In making the tools for
the manufacture of the first lot of 800
monographs. They will cost $50 a piece.
Nov for speculation as to what people
may do with the phonograph. / ain con-
| ident that it will be found in the Office of
every busy man. am confident that the
editor and the reporter of the future will
| never think of losing time by writing
| with pen or debating to a stenographer
when the printer can set type better from
the dictatlon of the phonograph than he
| can from copy. L have already perfected
an apparatus which allows the phono-
graphic message 10 be given out in pieces
of ten words each. The printer touches
| pedal with his foot and the phono-
graph says ten words. If he sets the ten
correctly, he touches the pedal again and
gets ten words more. If he Is in doubt
be tries another pedal, which makes the
| phonograph repeat. In the future some
method may be found of combining the
phonograph and the telephone-that il
to say, the phonograph may be made SC
delicate as to take down the sound from
telephone and give it out again when
wanted. AS yet 1 have not attempted
| any such thing. The vibrations of the
telephone diaphragm are too delicate fol
use use in the phonograph. In business
think that the phonograph will be used
| everywhere. Outside of business IL il